Bermuda Engineering Release Bermuda Solar Kit
Bermuda Engineering has today announced the release of the Bermuda Solar Kit, which offers the prospect of bringing affordable clean energy to homes across the island.
The company said, “Each kit will generate up to 1,600 kilowatt hours a year and depending on the orientation of the solar panels will provide annual savings between $450 and $760 at current electricity prices, paying for itself in 3-4 years. The electricity generated by the system will cost close to $0.07 per kilowatt hour, which is 75-83% cheaper than current electricity rates.
“Accounting for fuel price inflation, over the 25+ year lifetime of these systems, they could reduce expenditure on electricity by over $23,000, while offsetting the use of 47 barrels of oil and the production of 25 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.
“The kits will be available for $2,500 to anyone who pays a 50% deposit before 17:00 on Friday 28 November, and will be available the following week starting at $2,600 on Monday 1 December, with prices increasing $100 per day until Friday 5 December, when the price will be capped at $2,995. The kits will be on island early December and will be pre-sold as individual units, with one purchase permitted per customer on a first-come first serve basis.
“Each kit consists of four 255W solar panels, four microinverters, aluminium mounting rails, stainless steel roof mounting bolts and provides the majority of components required to install a complete solar electricity generating system. All that is required in addition to the kit is some wiring, conduit and electrical components.
“The solar panels are manufactured by Conergy AG and meet international quality standards for salt mist corrosion resistance and durability, and also carry an industry standard 25 year power output warranty. The microinverters are produced by Enphase, one of the world’s leading microinverter manufacturers, and have a 10 year warranty.”
Chris Worboys, business strategy consultant for Bermuda Engineering said: “We have been aware for some time that there is a perception in the community that solar is only available for the wealthy. The Bermuda Solar Kit was created to challenge this perception head-on by offering a solar kit at less than half the cost of a typical turn-key system in Bermuda or the USA.”
Mr. Worboys continued: “We analysed our costs and realised that by stripping out the ‘soft costs’ associated with system installation, obtaining planning permission and co-ordinating interconnection with BELCO, we could offer a very affordable solution that would bring solar to a broader cross section of the community.”
“The systems will be sold with an installation manual that covers the technical aspects of system installation. An on-line forum will provide additional advice on how to obtain planning permission and responsibly interconnect systems with BELCO. Anyone wishing to purchase a kit should contact Bermuda Engineering immediately to place a deposit to secure their system.”
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Category: All, Business, Environment
This is a game changer for the ENERGY world! This is great NEWS!!
Great to see a local company that’s interested in helping the community! Go solar!
Brilliant! Sign me up, I can’t wait!!
Good news, anyone who is thrifty can look at installing these themselves.
This is fantastic! I love seeing local companies finding ways to help everyone have access to cheaper and more green resources! Especially when energy prices keep rising…
Sounds like a great opportunity for someone that is handy and wants to save a few dollars on the install. A couple of questions come to mind though..
I would like to know what the extra cost is for either a) some sort of switching gear/meters if one’s intention is to sell surplus back to Belco, or b) the bank of batteries and additional inverter/switch to store and then later utilize any surplus. (on a system this size, surplus is likely to be negligible unless the house is unoccupied during the day, but still). Just round figures if anyone know?
Also, I’m guessing most people would want to install these on the roof, as probably that is the best collection point in most cases. Given Bermuda’s hostile salt air environment even the best constructed materials may begin to corrode/break down over the suggested 25 year lifetime. So the question is, is there anything in these panels that if they were to become exposed, could leak any toxic residue at all into the rain water we collect for consumption? Presumably they are made entirely of materials that are 100% inert and safe? I believe Silicon is the major component but not sure of anything else that may go into their manufacture so if anyone is knowledgeable please share ..
I know that Belco will install the net meter for free, which is the device that counts excess energy that is fed back into the grid…no batteries required!
Bermuda Engineering did a great solar installation at my parents house, and I had the same question about the panels on the roof. All of the materials used are inert and totally potable grade for drinking water. It’s looking to be a great investment, plus all of the environmental benefits, I find it hard to believe that more of BDA hasn’t gone solar already!
It would be real great if BELCO truly found a less costly,cleaner, a better way to make electricity.
Going to order this system asap, – possibly this morning.
I just called the Department of Planning and the head guy up there said that all applications for solar panels need engineers stamps and proper architect drawings showing your layout, design, roof connections and electrical connections.
I also called belco and the customer service representative said that they will only allow interconnection if the system was installed by a company on the “approved installers list” at the department of energy.
So if I had laid out the money for this solar kit I would have had to go back to Bermuda Engineering to get, and pay for, all the other services that are required by law. You guys should be honest with you offerings up front. I have been considering solar for a while but I don’t like to be mislead and this has put me off.
Sounds like you are an angry competitor @approved installers required
We have been honest with our offerings up front.
We also spoke with the Department of Planning before launching this product and they confirmed that homeowners can install their own systems so long as Planning’s requirements are met. Anyone with a high school education can prepare an application for permitted development. The installation manuals supplied with these kits come with a stamped diagram of the roof mount system and electrical single line diagram, for submission to planning.
The Department of Energy ‘approved installers list’ was for the solar rebates, which ended earlier this year. That list has no legal basis whatsoever and was purely for rebate eligibility.
Several homeowner-installed systems across the island have already been interconnected to BELCO and there is no wording in the interconnection agreement stating that you have to use an ‘approved installer’, for which there is no legal definition in any case. BELCO do require a certificate of occupancy from the Department of Planning, which ensures that the installation has met the requirements of the Bermuda Residential Building Code.
Anyone can do their own planning application and interconnection paperwork, it just takes some time and effort.
I installed my own system over a year ago and didn’t have any issues with planning, though they did want to inspect the roof mounting system while I was installing it. No problems with interconnection the system either – we got our net meter installed for free.